China willing to work with PH over drug arrests

- China’s willing to cooperate with President Duterte’s crackdown against crimes related to drugs

- Regardless of the nationalities of those involved, they would offer support regarding the matter

- This statement follows a recently arrested Chinese national for smuggling drugs in Cebu

It was only recent when China offered to back up President Rodrigo Duterte’s fight against those involved with illegal substances, when they once again showed support on the matter following a Chinese citizen’s arrest in Cebu.

Chinese embassy spokesperson Li Lingxiao has acknowledged how the head of the state was keen on hampering drug-related crimes and has expressed their willingness to continue on working alongside this advocacy. He noted that such is a shared responsibility of all countries, and informed that Beijing is firm on this subject, regardless of the nationalities of those involved.

Moreover, Lingxiao said they intend to work out a ‘specific plan of action’ in cooperation with the Philippines.

Zhou Liming, a Chinese national who arrived at Mactan-Cebu Internation Airport on Wednesday, July 20, has been detained by airport police for the possession of 11 packs of methamphetamine hydrochloride, commonly known as shabu.

The 27-year old, coming from Hong Kong, refused to bear knowledge of the drugs which amounts to Php 6.2 million. However, Superintendent Ritchie Medardo Posadas who was also the director of the Aviation Security Group at the airport noted how customs observed her suspicious actions as she appeared fidgety.

When a K-9 dog of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) sniffed and managed to detect the drugs in her bag, the foreigner turned emotional.

She was aboard flight CX 921 of Cathay Pacific and had an unidentified contact to fetch her but immediately left when she got nabbed. Zhou confessed that a friend of her cousin, a Canadian man, was responsible on informing her when she would visit the country. Posadas assured that they would search for the Chinese national’s contacts in the Philippines.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) in Cebu also stated that Zhou frequents the country as she visits through Cebu in two months interval.

With the help of a translator, Zhou continues to be questioned as she is not familiar with English.

The Chinese woman would be charged for violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Prior to China reiterating their support, Duterte intended to confront them as to how their nationals were able to run and smuggle drugs around the country. As China have already expressed on their cooperation with the problem, Duterte prefers to settle the South China Sea dispute first.